Prize: £500

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The judges were impressed by the originality of her ideas; her imagination and its execution. Already her commercial nous has resulted in international deals for her first collection. She has great potential for developments and diffusion products.

Ruth claims to be ‘clumsy’ and to make fantastical excuses for what happens to her - and it is from these traits that many of her creatures arise. She plans to attend a number of trade fairs to promote her products and will reinvest her award prize into her business. She intends to open a studio-gallery in Nottingham city centre – away from her home where her pets include snakes, large African snails and a Tarantula!